Special Collections
California Department of Education Recommended Literature List 2025
Description: The California Department of Education (CDE) coordinates the development of Recommended Literature List with the assistance of teachers, teacher librarians employed by schools and public libraries, administrators, curriculum planners, and parents.#CDE
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Impossible Creatures
by Katherine Rundell#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Two kids race to save the world&’s last magical place in the first book of a landmark new fantasy series, from &“a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.&” (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass) &“An instant classic from one of the most gifted storytellers of our time, Impossible Creatures is an astonishing miracle of a book.&” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only IvanA WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR • A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, KIRKUS REVIEWS, AND SHELF AWARENESS BEST BOOK OF THE YEARThe day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It&’s the day he learned about the Archipelago—a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it&’s the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help.Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what&’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.Katherine Rundell&’s story crackles and roars with energy and delight. It is brought vividly to life with more than 60 illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.
Insha'Allah, No, Maybe So
by Rhonda Roumani and Nadia RoumaniA sweet and playful picture book about a common Arabic word for life's uncertainties that will ring true for all families.Ranya wants to go to the park. &“Insha&’Allah,&” her mom tells her. But doesn't that just mean no? Ranya's mom says &“Insha&’Allah&” when Ranya asks to make cookies. She says it when Ranya wants to sleep over at Jayda's house. She says it when Ranya begs to go to Disneyland.This might sound familiar to parents and caregivers . . . It&’s hard to know what to say when you can&’t promise anything! Sometimes grown-ups say &“Maybe&” or &“We&’ll see.&” And in millions of Arab and Muslim homes around the world, families use the phrase &“Insha&’Allah&” when talking about the future. So, what does &“Insha&’Allah&” really mean? In this warmly illustrated picture book, Ranya and her mom tackle the meaning of the powerful phrase and ponder the best way to talk about their hopes and dreams—and maybe, sometimes, the things they want to put off. (Like cleaning up toys!)Cozy art and joyful, loving characters make this a perfect family read aloud.A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Invisible Isabel
by Sally J. PlaFrom award-winning author Sally J. Pla comes an illustrated middle grade novel about introverted Isabel Beane, who learns to speak up to quiet her worries. This thoughtful, earnest story is perfect for fans of Elana K. Arnold and Leslie Connor.Isabel Beane is a shy girl who lives in a home full of havoc and hubbub and hullabaloo. With five siblings, there is always too much too much-ness.At school, there’s a new girl who is immediately popular, but she’s also not very nice to one person—Isabel.Isabel has never felt more invisible. She begins to get bombarded by fears, like being abandoned by her classmates and taking the upcoming Extremely Important standardized test. Her fears feel like worry-moths that flutter in her belly. With every passing day, they seem to get stronger and stronger. How can Invisible Isabel make people listen?
I Wish You Would
by Eva Des LauriersTo All the Boys I've Loved Before meets You’ve Reached Sam—with all the feels of a Taylor Swift song—in this love story in which explosive secrets threaten to tear everyone apart, including best friends (or maybe more?), Natalia and Ethan."One of the best YA novels I've read in a long time." —Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight TomorrowIt’s Senior Sunrise, the epic overnight at the beach that kicks off senior year. But for Natalia and Ethan, it’s the first time seeing each other after what happened at junior prom—when they almost crossed the line from best friends to something more and ruined everything. After ghosting each other all summer, Natalia is desperate to pretend she doesn’t care and Ethan is desperate to fix his mistake.When the senior class carries out their tradition of writing private letters to themselves—what they wish they would do this year if they were braver—Natalia pours her heart out. So does Ethan. So does everyone in their entire class. But in Natalia’s panicked attempt to retrieve her heartfelt confession, the wind scatters seven of the notes across the beach. Now, Ethan and Natalia are forced to work together to find the lost letters before any secrets are revealed—especially their own.Seven private confessions. Seven time bombs loose for anyone to find. And one last chance before the sun rises for these two to fall in love.
Joyful Song
by Lesléa NewmanWhat a happy day! Zachary’s baby sister will have her naming ceremony. In the temple! With his moms, the congregation, and all their friends! He’s so excited he can barely contain it. On the walk from their home, they meet neighbor after neighbor who want to know the baby’s name. But – not yet! – his mothers tell him. The tradition is to have a great reveal at the ceremony. So they invite each neighbor to come along. A colorful, diverse parade blooms along the route, until…At last it’s time, and Zachary gets to reveal his sister’s name…What is it? A truly joyful moment for everyone.
The Judgment of Yoyo Gold
by Isaac BlumA smart and powerful story set in the Orthodox Jewish community about what it means to fit in, break out, and find your own way, by the award-winning author of The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen. This book is Gossip Girl + My Name Is Asher Lev + I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.Yoyo Gold has always played the role of the perfect Jewish daughter. She keeps kosher, looks after her siblings, and volunteers at the local food bank. She respects the decisions of her rabbi father and encourages her friends to observe the rules of their Orthodox faith. But when she sees her best friend cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo&’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors&’ hypocrisies for the first time. And what she sees leaves her shocked and unmoored.As Yoyo&’s frustration builds, so does the pressure to speak out, even if she can only do so anonymously on TikTok, an app that&’s always been forbidden to her. But when one of her videos goes viral—and her decisions wind up impacting not only her own life but also her relationship with the boy she&’s falling for—Yoyo&’s world is thrown into chaos. She is forced to choose which path to take, for her community, for her family, and most importantly, for herself.Award-winning author Isaac Blum returns with a new novel that asks what it really means to be part of a community—and what it means to break free.
Jumper
by Jessica LananFrom critically acclaimed illustrator of The Lost Package comes a bold nonfiction story following a day in the life of a backyard jumping spider - meticulously researched and utterly charming.What if you were small as a bean,Could walk on the walls and ceiling,Sense vibrations through your elbows,And jump five times your body length?That is Jumper's world.Open this book to discover the vibrant, hidden life of a backyard jumping spider.
Jupiter Rising
by Gary D. SchmidtWhen Jack's P.E. coach pairs him up with Jay Perkins for the cross-country team, neither of them is happy about it. Jack is grieving the loss of Joseph, his foster brother, and adjusting to his role as big brother to Jupiter, Joseph’s orphaned daughter. Dealing with Jay Perkins—who'd once ganged up with his buddies to jump Joseph in the locker room—is the last thing he wants to do.But then Jack realizes that Jay is grieving too—the loss of his cousin Maddie, Jupiter’s mom.As Jack's relationships with both Jay and Jupiter grow and his running improves, he starts to feel more like himself than he has since Joseph died. He's finding his stride . . . until Maddie’s parents, who have never shown interest in their granddaughter before, decide to claim Jupiter as their own, blocking Jack’s family from adopting her.And suddenly Jack’s past and present smash together, threatening to dissolve both his newfound confidence and his friendships.This poignant, powerful companion to Orbiting Jupiter is Gary D. Schmidt at his best. He is the author of the Printz Honor and Newbery Honor Book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; Okay for Now, a National Book Award finalist; and The Wednesday Wars, a Newbery Honor Book, among many acclaimed novels for young readers.
Just Another Epic Love Poem
by Parisa AkhbariBest friendship blossoms into something more in this gorgeously written queer literary romance."The heartache and longing of witnessing a beloved character pine hopelessly over her best friend has never brought me this much unadulterated joy." –National Book Award Finalist Sonora Reyes, author of The Lesbiana&’s Guide to Catholic SchoolOver the past five years, Mitra Esfahani has known two constants: her best friend Bea Ortega and The Book—a dogeared moleskin she and Bea have been filling with the stanzas of an epic, never-ending poem since they were 13.For introverted Mitra, The Book is one of the few places she can open herself completely and where she gets to see all sides of brilliant and ebullient Bea. There, they can share everything—Mitra&’s complicated feelings about her absent mother, Bea&’s heartache over her most recent breakup—nothing too messy or complicated for The Book.Nothing except the one thing with the power to change their entire friendship: the fact that Mitra is helplessly in love with Bea.Told in lyrical, confessional prose and snippets of poetry Just Another Epic Love Poem takes readers on a journey that is equal parts joyful, heartbreaking, and funny as Mitra and Bea navigate the changing nature of I love you.
Kareem Between
by Shifa Saltagi Safadi**WINNER of the NATIONAL BOOK AWARD for Young People's Literature**This heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse tells the powerful story of a seventh-grade Syrian American boy and his struggles, big and small, as he navigates middle school."The exact type of book I would've loved, and needed, as a kid." — Jasmine Warga, New York Times bestselling author of and Newbery Honor recipient for Other Words for HomeSeventh grade begins, and Kareem&’s already fumbled it. His best friend moved away, he messed up his tryout for the football team, and because of his heritage, he was voluntold to show the new kid—a Syrian refugee with a thick and embarrassing accent—around school. Just when Kareem thinks his middle school life has imploded, the hotshot QB promises to get Kareem another tryout for the squad. There&’s a catch: to secure that chance, Kareem must do something he knows is wrong.Then, like a surprise blitz, Kareem&’s mom returns to Syria to help her family but can&’t make it back home. If Kareem could throw a penalty flag on the fouls of his school and home life, it would be for unnecessary roughness.Kareem is stuck between. Between countries. Between friends, between football, between parents—and between right and wrong. It&’s up to him to step up, find his confidence, and navigate the beauty and hope found somewhere in the middle.
Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachvffa
by Leslie Stall WidenerA nonfiction picture book about the inspiring true pay-it-forward story that bridges two continents, 175 years, and two events in history--connecting Ireland, Choctaw Nation, Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe.1845. The Potato Famine devastated Ireland. An ocean away, Choctaw people heard and were moved by the similarities to the injustice they had suffered on the Trail of Tears. Though they had little, they gathered money to donate.2017. Irish people built a statue to remember their connection to the Choctaw Nation--twenty-foot high feathers in the shape of a bowl.2020. COVID-19 disproportionately ravished the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe. Irish people remembered the Choctaws' kindness and paid it forward by donating.Empathy creates kindness that lives well beyond a single act and includes more people the bigger it grows.
Kyra, Just for Today
by Sara ZarrFrom award-winning author Sara Zarr comes a gorgeously crafted and deeply personal story about a young girl, her alcoholic mother, and the hope that ties them together.Krya has always felt like she’s a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she’s okay with that, because she’s got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other—something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she’s not too much. Maybe, she’s just enough.Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra’s best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn’t dare say “relapse." But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all—to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all.With sensitivity and candor, acclaimed author Sara Zarr tells a heartfelt, personal story about finding hope in even the most difficult places, and love in even the most complicated relationships.
The Last Stand
by Antwan EadyThe author of Nigel and the Moon, delivers a tender intergenerational story inspired by his childhood in the rural south. Here's a farm stand that represents the importance of family, community, and hope.Every stand has a story.This one is mine. Saturday is for harvesting. And one little boy is excited to work alongside his Papa as they collect eggs, plums, peppers and pumpkins to sell at their stand in the farmer's market. Of course, it's more than a farmer's market. Papa knows each customer's order, from Ms. Rosa's pumpkins to Mr. Johnny's peppers. And when Papa can't make it to the stand, his community gathers around him, with dishes made of his own produce.Heartwarming illustrations complement the lyrical text in this poignant picture book that reveals a family's pride in their work, and reminds us to harvest love and hope from those around us.
Lift
by Minh L¿From the award-winning and bestselling creators of Drawn Together comes the fantastic tale of a magical elevator that will lift your spirits--and press all the right buttons!Iris loves to push the elevator buttons in her apartment building, but when it's time to share the fun with a new member of the family, she's pretty put out. That is, until the sudden appearance of a mysterious new button opens up entire realms of possibility, places where she can escape and explore on her own. But when she's forced to choose between going at it alone or letting her little brother tag along, Iris finds that sharing a discovery with the people you love can be the most wonderful experience of all.Using their dynamic comics-inspired storytelling, acclaimed author Minh Lê and Caldecott Medal-winning artist Dan Santat carry readers on a journey of ups, downs, and twists and turns that will send hearts--and imaginations--soaring.*"Beautiful" ---School Library Journal, starred review*"Dazzling"---Publishers Weekly, starred review*"Delightful"---School Library Connection, starred review*"Immersive"---Booklist, starred review*"Inspired"---Kirkus Reviews, starred review
The Lilies
by Quinn Diacon-FurtadoOne of Us Is Lying meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in this don’t-dare-to-look-away dark academia thriller that explores how secrets can rot an institution—and the people who uphold it—from the inside out. Everyone wants to be a Lily. At Archwell Academy, it’s the ticket to a successful future. But like every secret society, there is something much darker beneath the surface … sometimes girls disappear.When four Archwell students find themselves trapped in a time loop, they must relive their worst memories, untangling the Lilies’ moldering roots and unraveling the secrets at the core of their school … before they destroy their futures forever.
Lily Xiao Speaks Out
by Nicole ChenFrom the author of It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! comes an empowering, heartfelt middle grade novel about a grunge-loving Taiwanese American tween who must use her voice to fight for ESL support at her school.Lily Xiao can’t wait to go to Camp Rock Out this summer, where she’ll finally be able to shed her “class robot” good girl reputation and start her journey to becoming the next Eddie Vedder! And she can’t wait to do it with her best friend and cousin, Vivian, who’s just moved from Taiwan to Lily’s California hometown. But as the two cousins work their way through seventh grade, Vivian struggles more and more with her schoolwork, which is all taught in English. If Vivian can’t get her grades up, her parents won’t let her go to rock camp.Determined to help, Lily embarks on a mission to push their school to provide more support for English-as-a-Second-Language learners like Vivian. But her first-generation immigrant family is nervous about Lily challenging the status quo. We should be grateful to be here, they always say.With Camp Rock Out on the line, Lily will need to decide how far she’ll push against her family’s wishes in order to stand up and speak out.
Little Freddie Two Pants
by Drew DaywaltA laugh-out-loud funny picture book about a dog who doesn't know how many pairs of pants to wear (or where to wear them!) by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit.One pair of pants? Two pairs? Three? How many pants should Little Freddie wear? And where should he put them? What about underpants? Where do they go?In a book with text and art that are sure to induce giggles, Drew Daywalt and Lucy Ruth Cummins settle the age-old question: Do a dog&’s front legs deserve pants, too?
A Long Stretch of Bad Days
by Mindy McGinnisFrom award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a thrilling and gripping YA mystery about a small town’s past and the secrets unearthed by way of two teen girls—and a podcast. Perfect for fans of Sadie, The Cheerleaders, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. A lifetime of hard work has put Lydia Chass on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating.Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs one more credit to graduate. An unexpected partnership forms as the two remake Lydia’s town history podcast to investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days—a week when Henley was hit by a tornado, a flash food, as well as its first, only, and unsolved murder.As their investigation unearths buried secrets, some don’t want them to see the light. When the threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.
Looking for Smoke
by K. A. CobellIn her powerful debut novel, Looking for Smoke, author K. A. Cobell (Blackfeet) weaves loss, betrayal, and complex characters into a thriller that will illuminate, surprise, and engage readers until the final word. A must-pick for readers who enjoy books by Angeline Boulley and Karen McManus!When local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway to honor Loren’s missing sister, Mara thinks she’ll finally make some friends on the Blackfeet reservation.Instead, a girl from the Giveaway, Samantha White Tail, is found murdered. Because the four members of the Giveaway group were the last to see Samantha alive, each becomes a person of interest in the investigation. And all of them—Mara, Loren, Brody, and Eli—have a complicated history with Samantha. Despite deep mistrust, the four must now take matters into their own hands and clear their names. Even though one of them may be the murderer.
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
by Chanel MillerA Newbery Honor book and instant New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestseller!Award-winning author and artist Chanel Miller tells a fun, funny, and poignant story of friendship and community starring Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely only socks left behind in her parents' NYC laundromat.Down at the bottom of the tall buildings of New York City, Magnolia Wu sits inside her parents&’ laundromat. She has pinned every lost sock from the laundromat onto a bulletin board in hopes that customers will return to retrieve them. But no one seems to have noticed. In fact, barely anyone has noticed Magnolia at all. What she doesn&’t know is that this is about to be her most exciting summer yet. When Iris, a new friend from California arrives, they set off across the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock, asking questions in subways and delis and plant stores and pizzerias, meeting people and uncovering the unimaginable. With each new encounter, Magnolia learns that when you&’re bold enough to head into the unknown, things start falling into place.
A Maleta Full of Treasures
by Natalia SylvesterFrom an award-winning author and illustrator, a warm, gentle ode to cherished visits from grandparents and the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven&’t met them yet.It&’s been three years since Abuela&’s last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail—from Abuela&’s maletas full of candies in crinkly wrappers and gifts from primos to the sweet, earthy smell of Peru that floats out of Abuela&’s room and down the hall. But Abuela&’s visit can&’t last forever, and all too soon she&’s packing her suitcases again. Then Dulce has an idea: maybe there are things she can gather for her cousins and send with Abuela to remind them of the U.S. relatives they&’ve never met. And despite having to say goodbye, Abuela has one more surprise for Dulce—something to help her remember that home isn&’t just a place, but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.
Mallory in Full Color
by Elisa Stone LeahyA funny, poignant middle grade novel about a tween who navigates questions of identity and friendship when her anonymous web comic goes viral, from the acclaimed author of Tethered to Other Stars.Mallory Marsh is an expert at molding into whatever other people want her to be. Her true thoughts and feelings only come out in her sci-fi web comic, which she publishes anonymously as Dr. BotGirl.But juggling all the versions of herself gets tricky, especially when Mal’s mom signs her up for swim team. Instead of being honest about hating competitive swim, Mal skips out on practice and secretly joins the library’s comic club. There Mal meets Noa, a cute enby kid who is very sure of who they are. As Mal helps Noa plan a drag queen story time, she tries to be the person she thinks Noa wants her to be—by lying about her stage fright.Then Mal’s web comic goes viral, and kids at school start recognizing the unflattering characters based on Mal’s real-life friends. With negative pushback threatening the drag queen story time and Dr.BotGirl’s identity getting harder to hide, Mallory must reckon with the lies she has told.If she reveals her full self, will her friends, her parents, and her new crush accept the real Mallory Marsh?
Mama's Chicken and Dumplings
by Dionna L. MannGrowing up in segregated 1930&’s Charlottesville, ten-year-old Allie is determined to find a man for her mama to marry— but not just any man will do!Allie&’s life with Mama isn&’t bad, but she knows it could be better if Mama would find someone to marry. Allie&’s worst enemy, her NOT-friend Gwen, has a daddy, and Allie wants someone like that—someone to fix things when they break, someone who likes to sing, and has a kind-smile. So Allie makes a plan—her super secret Man-For-Mama plan. She has a list of candidates with a clear top choice: Mr. Johnson, who owns the antique store. Best of all, Mr. Johnson went to school with Mama, and he wants to get reacquainted! The battle&’s half won, and Allie is sure that when he tries Mama&’s yummy chicken and dumplings, he&’ll be head over heels. But someone else is interested in Mama: Mr. Coles, Allie&’s teacher, who&’s also Gwen&’s uncle! Mama can&’t marry him—no way is Allie going to be related to Gwen. On top of it all, Allie&’s best friend is moving to Chicago; Allie keeps getting in trouble; and everyone seems to think she&’s jealous of Gwen, for some reason. Nothing is going how she planned, but Allie is determined to get things back on track toward the life she knows she and Mama both deserve. . . even if Mama doesn&’t agree yet.A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice
by Anna LaperaMost Anticipated Middle Grade Reads of 2024: Teen Librarian Toolbox, School Library Journal For fans of Donna Barba Higuera's Lupe Wong Won't Dance and Aida Salazar's The Moon Within comes Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice – a contemporary middle grade novel full of spunk and activist heart. Life sucks when you're twelve. You're not a little kid, but you're also not an adult, and all the grown-ups in your life talk about your body the minute it starts getting a shape. And what sucks even more than being a Chinese-Filipino-American-Guatemalan who can't speak any ancestral language well? When almost every other girl in school has already gotten her period except for you and your two besties. Manuela "Mani" Semilla wants two things: To get her period, and to thwart her mom's plan of taking her to Guatemala on her thirteenth birthday. If her mom's always going on about how dangerous it is in Guatemala, and how much she sacrificed to come to this country, then why should Mani even want to visit? But one day, up in the attic, she finds secret letters between her mom and her Tía Beatriz, who, according to family lore, died in a bus crash before Mani was born. But the letters reveal a different story. Why did her family really leave Guatemala? What will Mani learn about herself along the way? And how can the letters help her to stand up against the culture of harassment at her own school? P R A I S E "Anna Lapera expertly voices a young girl’s middle school trials, but with a voice so unique and heartfelt you will be cringing one moment and cheering the next. She weaves a distinctive story filled with humor, family heartache, and secrets while a young girl releases the fear of her voice and grasps its power." —Newbery Medalist Donna Barba Higuera ★ "With strong writing, frank conversations about periods, anatomy, and bodily autonomy, plus dynamic characters, this solidly upper middle grade/lower YA story will empower readers, affirm their own middle school experiences, and show that people should be held accountable for the many daily offenses girls and women are subjected to. A powerful look at collective action that shows when we raise our voices together, we don’t just make noise—we sing. Not to be missed." —School Library Journal (starred) ★ "Lapera’s debut novel focuses on the disparities against women, shedding light on the femicides occurring in other countries. Readers will root for Mani as she develops the courage to advocate for herself and other girls, even when it's frightening. A great introduction for middle-schoolers and tween readers on topics such as consent and the #MeToo movement." —Booklist (starred) "Using perceptive prose, debut author Lapera approaches Guatemala’s fraught history with care and respect, and lovingly spotlights the tension felt in the relationship between a protective mother and the daughter who seeks independence from her." —Publishers Weekly "A poignant, feminist coming-of-age story."—Kirkus "Lapera’s writing shines in the rendering of connection and levity with friends and family. There are laugh-out-loud moments, from the bizarre to the everyday. There is inspiration and hope … Amid the frankness about challenging topics, readers will also encounter warmth and a pervading sense of capability and inner strength in finding their own voices." —Horn Book "This impressive debut will make you laugh, cheer, and stand up on the nearest table to protest injustice, probably all before you finish chapter one." —LitHub "A beautifully told, poignant story about courage and the power of tradition. Maní’s newly discovered voice will inspire all of us to find our own way to speak out against oppression." —Award-winning author Francisco X. Stork
A Map for Falasteen
by Maysa OdehA young Palestinian girl living in diaspora struggles to find her homeland on a map in this gentle and heartfelt picture book.At school, Falasteen and her classmates are tasked with finding their families' home countries on a map, but no matter how hard she looks, Falasteen can't find Palestine.Can a place exist if it's not on a map? Confused, Falasteen turns to her family for answers. Her grandfather, grandmother, and Mama encourage her to see their homeland from a different perspective, and each of their stories helps her understand her people's history and her own place in the world.Filled with beautiful, inspiring illustrations and thoughtful back matter that outlines key terms and historical moments, this is a story of family, resilience and home always being where the heart is.